Film-mending device.



W. H. KUNERT.

FILM MENDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2. 1915.

1 1 9 1 ,32 1. Patented J 1 18, 1911;.

'2 SHEE HEET 2.

WILLIAM H. KUNER'I, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

FILM-MENDING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters 1atent.

Patented July 18, 1916.

Application filed June 2, 1915. Serial No. 31,712.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. KU- NERT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State ofMinnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFilm-Mending Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to the splicing of fabrics and more especially toadhering seam-forming; and, the immediate purpose had in view is toprovide a device for use in mending moving picture films.

To the above end, generally stated, the invention consists of the noveldevices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, likecharacters indicate like parts throughout their several views.

Referring to the drawings :-Figure 1 is a perspective view of the deviceand a combined scraper blade and lifting pin, as used in holding a filmto trim one of its broken ends and remove the emulsion along the trimmededge portion, the severed broken end portion of the film being indicatedby broken lines; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device as used in holdingthe trimmed end portions of the film overlapped to receive cement inmaking a splice-joint; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device asused in holding the film while the cement is setting at thesplice-joint; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the bed-plate; Fig. 5 is atransverse section taken on Fig. 3 between the intermediate and righthand clamps; Fig. 6 is a detail View in section taken onthe line :0 m ofFig. 1; and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the film atthe splice-joint.

The numeral 1 indicates a rectangular base, having rigidly securedthereon a bedplate 2 of similar form, but of less dimensions on allsides. In actual usage of the device the base 1 may be rigidly secured,by screws 3 to a table top or other suitable support, not shown. End andintermediate film clamping plates 4 and 5, respectively,-

are edgewise spaced from each other and secured, by hinges 6 and 7,respectively, to the rear edge of the bed-plate 2 for vertical swingingmovements, transversely of the bed-plate and for flat engagementtherewlth. Spring latches 8, secured, by a clamplng bar 9 to the frontvertical portion of the bed-plate 2 are provided for interlockingengagement with the free ends of the clamp-' their ends to a plate 11 bypassing the same through pairs of slots formed in said plate, as shownin Fig. 4. The plate 11 is rigidly secured by screws or other suitablemeans to the vertical back portion of the bed-plate 2. The other ends ofthe springs 10 are passed loosely through small retaining brackets 13,secured, on to each of the clamping plates 4 and the other end of theother spring '10 is loosely extended into the clamping plate 5, which istubular in cross-section.

Four rectangular spaced, upwardly projecting alining pins 14 areanchored to the bed-plate 2 under each clamping plate 4. Also, anchoredto the bed-plate 2, on each side of the clamping plate 5, is an aliningpin 15 of the same form as the alining pins 14. These alining pins 15are alined with the rear row of alining pins 14. In each clamping plate4 is formed a plurality of apertures 16 into which, the alining pins 14project when the clamping plates are closed.

The front and rear rows of alining pins 14 are spaced transversely onthe bed-plate 2, a distance corresponding to the distance between thetwo rows of longitudinally spaced sprocket holes 17 in the film 18. Eachgroup of alining pins 14 and the adjacent alining pins 15 are spacedapart, longitudinally of the bed-plate 2, distances corresponding tomultiples of the longitudinally spaced sprocket holes 17 .By thustransversely and longitudinally spacing the alining pins 14 and 15, thesame will enter the two rows of sprocket holes 17 and firmly hold thefilm 18 against both endwise and edgewise movements. Preferably, thealining pins 14 and 15 are slightly tapered toward their upper ends, sothat they will readily enter the sprocket holes 17. The two groups ofalining pins 14 and 15 are also spaced from each other a distance thatwill hold the end portions of the film 18, overlapped, a distancecorresponding to the distance between any two longitudinallyspacedsprocket holes 17, which is the width of the splice-jolnt to be made.

In making a splice-joint in a moving picture film, the importance ofhaving the longitudinal edges thereof, in true alinement and the spacingof the sprocket holes 17 accurate is thought to be apparent. In case thelongitudinal edges of the film 18 are not properly alined, the teeth ofthe sprocket wheels of the film-feeding mechanism are liable not toenter the sprocket holes 17, thereby causing the film to traveledgewise, in which case the teeth of the sprocket wheels traveling overthe body of the film will cut. and spoil the same. The sprocket wheelsof the feeding mechanism are also liable to leave the sprocket holes 17of the film 18, in casethe spacing of the sprocket holes 17 at thesplice-joint isnot' properly made. Also, in case the splice-joint isunnecessarily wide, the stiffness of .the same will cause the film -18to leave the sprocket wheels of the feeding mechanism.

On the right-hand end of the bedplate 2 is a cutter comprising fixed andmovable shearing blades 19 and 20, respectively. These shearing blades19 and 20 extend transversely of the bed-plate 2 and are pivot allyconnected, at their inner ends. The cutting edges of the fixed shearingblade 19 are located in the plane of the upper face of the bed-plate 2and the free end of the movable shearing blade 20 is equipped with ahand piece 21. These shearing blades 19 and 20 are of a lengthsuflicient to extend on either side of the film 18 so that the film maybe transversely severed by a single movement of the shearing blade 20.The cutting edges of the shearing blades 19 and 20 are spaced, from theadjacent groups of alining pins 14 and 15, a distance that will cut thefilm 18 at one sideof any pair of transversely spaced sprocket holes 17.It is also important to note that the right-hand edge of the adjacentclamping plate 4 is spaced from the cutting edge of the shearing blades19 and 20, a distance corresponding to the width of the splice-joint tobe made in the film 18.

In the trimming of the broken ends of the film 18, the film is placed onthe bed-plate 2, with its prepared side up, and before the end portionsof the film 18, which is to form the under section of the splice-jointis removed from the bed-plate 2, the emulsion is removed therefromoutward of the clamping plate 4. The scraper blade 22 or a special tool,having a lifting pin 23, is provided for this purpose. In removing theemulsion from the film, the same is first wet and then removed by thescraper blade 22, the adjacent edge of the right-hand clamping plate 4acting as a guide for said scraper blade. It will be noted that theouter end of the scraper blade 22 is beveled rearward from its point sothat the same will scrape the emulsion from the film close to saidclamping blade and in a straight line, transversely of the film 18.

As previously stated, the broken ends of the film 18 are severed onlines at one side of the sprocket holes 17, and the width of thesplice-joint is the same as the distance between any two longitudinallyspaced sprocket holes 17 Ordinarily, it is only necessary to cut out onepicture in the trimming of the broken ends of the film. To make aperfect splioe-joint itiSneceSSary to trim the end portion of the filmwhich is to form the upper section of the splice-j oint, so that thatportion of the picture corresponds to that portion of the picturedestroyed by the removing of the emulsion. I

To assist in trimming the broken ends of the film 18 in order that thepicture at the splice-joint will be perfect, there is placed on the base1, under the cutter 1920, a mirror 24 secured in position by anysuitable means. The operator, by watching the reflection of the pictureon the film in the mirror 24 may very quickly and accurately positionthe film on the bed-plate 2 over the alining pins 14 and 15, in orderthat the film will be properly trimmed to form a complete and perfectpicture at the splice-joint.

After the ends of the film 18 have been properly trimmed, the same areplaced on the bed-plate 2, over the alining pins 14-15, which holds thesame in true longitudinal alinement with the end portion of the film,

" having the emulsion removed, overlapped by the other end portion ofthe film sufficiently to make the required splice-joint. In thisposition of the film 18, the clamping plates 4 are turned down thereonpressing the film, on either side of the splicejoint onto the bed-plate2. In this position of the clamping plates 4, the same are securedagainst the tension of their springs 10 by the latches 8. Suitablecement is then applied, by a small brush 25, to the end portion of thefilm 18, from which the emulsion is removed. While the cement is thusbeing applied, the other end portion of the film 18 is held raised bythe lifting-pin 23, as shown in Fig. 2.

To facilitate the lifting of the film with the lifting-pin 23, a grooveor tool guide 26 is formed transversely of the bed-plate 2, between theintermediately clamping plate 5 and the right-hand clamping plate 4 asshown in Fig. 2. This groove 26 extends forward of the frontlongitudinal edge of the film 18 .and by placing the point of thelifting-pin or tool 23 therein, and sliding the same away from'theoperator, the respective end portion of the film may be very easilypicked up and held, as shown in Fig. 2. After the cement is applied tothe splice-joint, the lifting-pin 23 is withdrawn, allowing the engagedportion of the film to spring into contact with the cement coveredportion of the splice-joint. The intermediate clamping plate 5 is thenturned down onto the splice-joint, pressing the same onto the bed-plate2 and secured inposition by the respective latch 8. The splice-joint isheld in position a sufficient length of time to permit the cement toset.

To insure an equal pressure on the splicejoint, throughout its entirelength, a facing of resilient material 27, such as rubber, is applied tothe under face of the intermediate clamping plate 5. As shown, thisresilient material 27 is tubular in cross-section and is adapted to betelescoped onto the clamping plate 5. To adjust the resilient material27, with respect to the splice-joint, a piece of cardboard 28, or othersuitable material, may be inserted between the under face of saidclamping plate 5 and said resilient material.

The above described invention, while extremely simple and ofcomparatively small costto manufacture, has, in actual usage provenhighly eflicient for the purpose had in view.

lVhat I claim is 1. In a device of the kind described, the combinationwith a film cutter, of a mirror so located below the cutter, that theoperator may observe the relative position of the under face of the filmand the cutter, and a clamp for holding the film while being cut.

2. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a bed-plate,of a film cutter carried by said bed-plate, means for holding a filmlongitudinally spaced on the bed-plate, with respect to the cutter, amirror located below said cutter, and a clamp for holding the ends of afilm on the bedplate while cementing the same together.

3. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a bed-plate,of a film cutter carried by said bed-plate, alining pins on thebed-plate, arranged to enter the sprocket holes of a film, for holdingthe film longitudinally spaced, with respect to said cutter, a mirrorlocated below said cutter,

a clamp for holding the film on the bedplate and affording a guide-for atool used in removing the emulsion from the fihn in making asplice-joint, and a clamp for holding the ends of the film whilecementing the same together.

4. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a filmcutter, of a mirror so located below the cutter that the operator mayobserve the relative position of the under face of the film and thecutter.

5. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a bed-platehaving a guide for a tool used in picking up one of the end portions ofa film while cement is being applied to the other thereof, of a pair ofclamps for holding the end portions of the film on the bed-plate whilecementing the same together.

6. In a device of the kind described, the combination with a bed-plate,of a' clamp for holding the ends of a film while cementing the sametogether, an elastic sleeve on said clamp, and a shimming plateinsertible between said clamp and sleeve.

7. In adevice of the kind described, the combination with a bed-platehaving at one end cooperating shearing blades, of a combined film clampand tool guide on the bedplate, located inward of said shearing blades,the bed-plate between the shearing blades and the combined film clampand tool guide affording a support for the film in re: moving therefroma predetermined amount of emulsion.

8. In a device of the kind described, the" combination with a bed-plate,of cooperative fixed and movable shearing blades, said fixed shearingblade forming an extension of the bed-plate, and a film clamp thereonspaced from said shearing blade and affording a guide for a tool inremoving a predetermined amount of emulsion from the film as the latteris supported by said fixed blade.

Intestimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. KUNERT. Witnesses:

CLARA DEMAREST, HARRY T. KILG RE.

